Pre-Health Sciences

Alex had plans to become a lawyer to help underserved communities in developing countries. But a study abroad trip to Ecuador, where she observed the state of healthcare, changed her plans.

“I realized I wanted a career that gave me direct contact meeting the needs of the underserved. I switched to nursing to focus on patient care and form personal connections.”

When Alex returned to campus, she connected with the College’s pre-professional health program coordinator and learned about North Central’s affiliation with Rush University’s Generalist Entry Master’s program in nursing.

“I had to start from scratch midway through college to begin my required science classes. The professors were...

A biology major, Rebecca devoted part of her senior year to prepare for medical school; she was accepted to four schools and chose the Medical College of Wisconsin.

A standout student, Rebecca was a College Scholar, was named the Outstanding Major in Biology and studied abroad in England. She also received a scholarship for students interested in cancer research and conducted research in allergies and immunology at Northwestern University. 

Rebecca credits her professors for preparing her for a medical career. “The science professors are stellar. They teach us to be independent thinkers, resourceful learners and to analyze everything critically.”

She recalls spending hours in the...

Erin McElheny earned her bachelor’s degree at North Central College and completed her doctor of physical therapy (D.P.T.) degree at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL. She’s a physical therapist at TheraCORE in Lockport.

As an undergraduate at North Central, Erin learned the importance of good communication skills.

“Having those skills gave me an edge when it came to the interview process for physical therapy school,” Erin says. “Establishing rapport with people is a skill that someone working in the healthcare industry should master.”

During her senior year at North Central, Erin worked in physical therapy clinics and completed...

Dr. Rob Hoffert graduated from North Central College with a degree in biology. He went on to earn a doctorate of optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He’s an optometrist with the Brenart Eye Clinic in Yorkville, where he worked part time as a lab technician throughout college.

“North Central was great because of its small class sizes,” Rob says. “I connected with many of the professors.” Two professors wrote him recommendation letters for graduate schools.

“Graduate schools really like applicants with liberal arts degrees,” he says. “They want a well-rounded...

As a student, Rachel Craghead had no trouble balancing academics with campus involvement, volunteerism and other pursuits. In addition to excelling in North Central College’s rigorous psychology curriculum, Rachel held leadership positions with the College’s orientation staff, Uncommon Life Movement and Blue Key Honor Society.

Rachel paired her passion for service with the opportunity to gain experience in the medical field during D-Term her senior year.

“I set up a trip to Haiti through Mission of Hope,” Rachel says. “I knew I wanted to work in the medical field, and this trip allowed me to gain valuable experiences.” While in Haiti, she shadowed medical professionals, including nurses, doctors...

Currently a medical student at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Allison discovered her passion for medicine while studying biology and chemistry at North Central. Here she conducted academic research with faculty members and presented her work at national conferences. She also volunteered for community service projects, served as president of an honors  society chapter and mentored fellow students as a lab assistant and preceptor.

“You can walk into North Central professors’ offices and chat with them about their weekend or ask about your homework,” she says. “The faculty are very friendly. In fact, when I came for my Presidential Scholarship interview as a freshman, Dr. (...

John Ladeur knew he wanted to pursue a career in healthcare but wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted to do. After working as a certified nursing assistant and a phlebotomy lab assistant, John eventually found his fit in occupational therapy.

John, who transferred from a community college, chose to earn his bachelor’s degree at North Central rather than a bigger school. “I prefer small classes and seeing professors on a regular basis during office hours,” John says. “I love the campus. North Central also has a good reputation in the sciences, and everyone I’ve met along the way has been very personable.”

John also appreciates opportunities for volunteering at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in...

Liz transferred to North Central College for many reasons. The trimester system would make transitioning to graduate school easier and “the advising program is superior to many other schools. Receiving advice and guidance is crucial for students. Advisors here work hard to help you find internships and prepare for grad school.”

Liz worked closely with the College’s pre-professional health program coordinator and plans to attend graduate school for occupational therapy—an area that’s interested her since high school.

“I started researching the field when I visited older family friends in rehabilitation centers and saw the work they’d been doing with occupational therapists. I was intrigued and...